E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Stafford County Sheriff's Office
Laurence Alan Stewart II is seen in a photo release by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.
WASHINGTON -- A man suspected in two bombings in Stafford County, Va., and one in Fredericksburg, Va., Tuesday morning was arrested Thursday in Montana.
Laurence Alan Stewart II, 25, is accused of explosions at the homes of an ex-girlfriend, a Stafford County Sheriff's deputy's former home and another law enforcement official, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
When police attempted to stop Stewart for speeding, he drove away and led them on a chase, throwing multiple pipe bombs at pursuing officers, authorities said. Some of the pipe bombs detonated, but no one was injured.
After about a 40-mile pursuit, police disabled Stewart's vehicle in Belt, Mont., near Great Falls. Armed with a handgun, Stewart ran from the car but was taken into custody. It's unknown at this time if shots were fired during the apprehension.
"This was an individual that was very dangerous. He showed that capacity in Virginia and continued that today in Montana," ATF spokesman Bradley Beyersdorf said.
Stewart is charged in Stafford County with attempted capital murder on a law enforcement officer, attempted capital murder during the commission of an act of terror, two counts of manufacture or possession of a weapon of terror, and two counts of burning or destroying by use of explosives at a dwelling. Fredericksburg is charging him with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer, missile into an occupied dwelling and arson of an occupied dwelling.
More from NBCWashington.com: Some DC Speed Camera Fines to Drop
In Montana he faces three counts of attempted deliberate homicide after being accused of throwing pipe bombs near patrol cars and one count of felony criminal endangerment over a pipe bomb thrown near a civilian's car.
The first explosion Tuesday morning was at the former home of a sheriff's deputy in the 3100 block of Normandy Avenue in Fredericksburg about 4 a.m. A woman and her dog got out unharmed when a homemade pipe bomb was thrown in the rear of the residence, according to the Stafford County sheriff. Three rooms were damaged, windows shattered and a hole was blown through the roof.
A Virginia State Police bomb detection dog did not find any additional devices.
Watch the Top Videos on NBCNews.com
About 4:30 a.m., a homemade pipe bomb was thrown outside a home in the Kings Grant subdivision, causing damage to the home but not injuring anyone inside, according to the sheriff.
And about 5:30 a.m., a homemade pipe bomb was thrown to the rear of a home in the Country Ridge subdivision, according to the sheriff. Again, the home was damaged but no one was injured.
Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter
Stewart was previously wanted on charges that included allegations of indecent exposure and violation of a protection order, The Associated Press reported. He is accused of exposing himself to two people while sitting in his car in North Stafford in July and August, authorities said.
The law enforcement officials targeted were investigating that case, authorities said.
Virginia State Police and the Stafford County and Fredericksburg Police Department fire marshal's offices assisted the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, Fredericksburg police and the ATF in the investigation.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Man gets 17 years for plot to bomb Pentagon, Capitol with model planes
- Hurricane Sandy provides 'wake-up call' for cities at risk of flooding
- Secret Service agent reportedly kills self after alleged affair revealed
- Nearly 30 Air Force Academy cadets injured as ritual turns into 'brawl'
- Italy police: Student stabs sleeping American friend while on drugs
Leave a Comment:
Pipe bombs are too easy to make.
Just throw away the key on this guy.
Total nutcase.
.
But he looks like such a nice guy!
Yeah and so did Ted Bundy. Hope NO bail is set because this nut case will strike again.
If the accounts are true, the cops in this one have to be singled out as among the most restrained in the US. Some people have been shot over 20 times while unarmed by cops. A couple of NYC cases come to mind.
Based on the charges, this jerk can expect to get out of prison just in time to draw Social Security.
This is why we can't ban guns, everybody would resort to pipe bombs which aren't nearly as effective but awfully loud.
All factories would have to convert and plumbing material would be the next bubble. S&W PB 100 model now available with your choice of fuse lengths.
Dick-2100935,
Which is also why we will never be able to ban wet noodle bludgeons. Kraft and Chef Boyardee would have to be shut down and all trips to Italy would instantly put you on the FBI watch list.
Seriously man... Get real!!!
What an idiot. Did he really think he was going to get away. How much is his stupid antics going to cost the taxpayers. We will have to foot the bill for prosecution and defense and years of room and board,medical care. They should have just shot him when he got out of the car with a gun.
What if he was high on crystal meth though?
Just means we will have to pay for "rehab" too...
What does him being high on crystal meth mean? Stick him in a jail cell. That will take care of his "rehab".
You know it's like being high on cocaine, except worse.
Who cares? Shoot him! The only good tweeker is a smoked tweeker
If he had been black or brown they would have.
Maybe he thought he was playing GTA IV. He got three out of five stars.
tie him to a pole and let the cops throw the rest of the pipe bombs at him...
I'm glad they got this wacko off the streets and hopefully he hates his new life behind bars.
At least this time no one was killed due to this nut job and the damage can be repaired.
Guess he was tired of living life free and having a possible future ahead of him but sadly now the taxpayers will have to pay for his room and board. Hope he really enjoys his life behind bars and all his new bed buddies.
Major....Loser!!!! Lol
Chase scene...Terminator.....
Put lipstick on him and a blond wig and put him in jail
That pretty boy wont need the lipstick and wig....matter of fact, it would probably stave off the hard timers thinkin he has aids or something.......
He'll get a pipe bomb up is posterior all right....
idiot II ----poor spoiled rich snob ; thinks he can do anything he wants!!
Stuff one of his own pipe bombs up his posterior and light the fuse...
If he isn't wealthy he will be gone a long time. Hopefully the rest of his life. If he is wealthy he will buy his justice and do a little time.
From Virginia to Montana? Sounds like he could have been on his way to northern Idaho and neo nazi country.
It is because of the American Media that I know how to build a pipe bomb and a number of other assorted weapons of destruction..It is because of the Media that I first new of Marijuania and how to use it as well as Hashish, It is because of the Government and my Local Police Department in cahoots with the Media that I know about all the assorted illegal drugs, and the DARE Program told me about even more drugs and how to use them... My own two children knew nothing about Illegal Drugs until after a DARE Officer visited them in school and educated all the kids on how to use drugs...I've often wondered if DARE is funded by the Illegal Drug Suppliers of America...Same with the funding of Sex Education in the Schools..The liberals are Educating all our children into the bad things in the world and seem to have no problem encouraging the behavior due to the education the children receive...I wonder how much money Drug Dealers and Sex Peddlars donate to the Liberal Demoncrat Poltiicans.....I know of three cases in the South where the Polticians were caught with over $100,000 dollars in laundered Drug money, one hid it in his kitchen Refrigertor freezer. Plus you don't hear Politicans talking about suppressing the availabiliyt of illegal drugs any more..And since their Law and Order gambit has failed, you do not hear about Politicians running on the Law & Order Platform...Instead they try to buy your Vote with I'll give you a cellphone or I'm gonna spread America's wealth around to those who have not earned it..They out vote buying and nothing more....Meanwhile they legitslate your Rights away every day and invade your home as in Bloomberg and his Soda and Cigerette Decrees..He's a monster...
But what I always find interesting, especially with Headlines that accompany this story is that police always act "Shocked" that Criminals just do not lay down and die just because they ordered them to do so. Or that the Outlaws fire back at them as in "How dare they"! .These are OutLaws who have no respect for the Law,,so why on earth do the Police naively expect Outlaws to pay any attention to them..It also tells me the Police generally have any real contact with the real bad guys and spend most of thier time accosting generally law abiding citzens,,who now mostly hold them in disdain for being corrupt and just tax gathers for the Polticians via Speeding tickets or Small amounts of Marijuana or DUI's...
This clown needs to be under extreme supervision for the rest of his days.What a Jackwad...
This guy is no Arab. He's not a Muslim. He's a white guy from Virginia. I wonder what his politics are? Maybe I'm profiling Virginians, but I bet he came from a Christian background and raised by straight ticket Republican voters. I could be wrong, but it's not an unreasonable conclusion.
Montana
Your "reasonable" conclusion seems to be a Cartesian Circle (from DesCartes) - to start by stating your point then coming right back around with the arguments that are your point,
the beginning above in "politics then your "proof" by stating Republican - desCartes philosophy in this manner is not a valid reasoning.
He'll plead temporary insanity, spend 3 years in rehab and be out on parole in time to vote for next round of presidential elections...
Who knows....maybe Mitt will give him a pardon....
Shid...I'd like to ask him, LAS II, for the WINNING lotto numbers. I mean....what are the odds you can blow up properties and terrorize folks, THROW PIPE BOMBS at COPS, in a chase, then get out of the car (with a Gun); run til you wind-out and be safely apprehended?
Talk about lucky to be alive. People have been SHOT 40+ times for reaching for a wallet, to show ID, in NY and elswhere in America.
What motivated these COPS - to NOT shoot this guy?
Things that make you go "hmmmm....". Now, WE PAY to support this guy's future lifestyle.
This guy has to know at least something about winning!
And so it begins.
Why do these dumb idiots always think they can get away with it?